Pagina's

zaterdag 7 januari 2012

Goalkeeper Tim Howard scores for Everton

Tim Howard amazing goal

Everton 1 - 2 Bolton

goal from Everton: goalkeeper Tim Howard

goals from Bolton: N'Gog and Cahill

Although Everton fans would have doubtless left Goodison Park bitterly disappointed after a defeat to relegation-threatened Bolton, there was at least one uplifting talking point to discuss over a post-match pint.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard's second-half goal provided one of the most bizarre moments of the Premier League season so far as his upfield punt deceived Trotters shot-stopper Adam Bogdan and nestled safely in the goal. Though the wind can claim an assist, given the terrible conditions in Merseyside on Wednesday, the strike was a remarkable feat.

That said, it is far from a unique one.

Here is a look at 10 of the most impressive and most important strikes from men whose job is actually supposed to be the prevention of goals.

Sinan Bolat seals Europa League place for Liege

With Standard Liege trailing AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the 95th minute of their final Champions League group game in 2010, the Belgians were facing not only an exit from Europe's premier competition but European football altogether for that season. The Jupiler league side needed a hero to step up, and most likely didn't expect it to come in the shape of goalkeeper Sinan Bolat. The Turkish shot-stopper leapt highest to meet a Liege free kick with a header most centre forwards would be proud of, ensuring his side finished third in their group and entered the Europa League at the expense of their Dutch opponents.

Rogerio Ceni nets 100th career goal

When goalscoring goalkeepers are discussed, the name of Sao Paulo's Rogerio Ceni inevitably pops up. It is difficult to single out one of the numerous goals the Brazilian keeper has scored but one of his most recent in March last year not only marked his 100th career strike but also had further significance. It came as the winner in a 2-1 victory over Brazilian giants Corinthians and, of course, was scored from a free kick 20 yards out. The ball hit the top corner with trademark venom and, rather unfairly considering the 38-year-old is part of the goalkeeper's union himself, gave Corinthians' shot-stopper absolutely no chance.

Jose Luis Chilavert grabs a hat-trick for Velez

Another South American goalkeeper with a penchant for goalscoring was Jose Luis Chilavert. Whilst there was seemingly little out of the ordinary about his penalty during Velez Sarsfield's 6-1 victory over Ferro Carril Oeste in 1999, it capped off a trio of goals in the game. All three of Chilavert's strikes that day came from the spot as he became the first ever keeper to achieve the feat of notching three times in one match. The Paraguayan netted 44 career goals.

Jimmy Glass saves Carlisle from relegation

The story of Jimmy Glass and Carlisle is so unlikely that it would perhaps be laughed off as an unrealistic film premise. The Cumbrian outfit stood on the brink of relegation to the Football Conference on the final day of the 1998/1999 Division Three season, being held by Plymouth Argyle when only a win would ensure survival. With 90 minutes on the clock, on-loan goalkeeper Glass, playing for only the third time for Carlisle, entered the box for a corner kick in a desperate attempt to salvage his side's league status. Famously, the ball did in fact fall to Glass, who volleyed home with aplomb to spark a pitch invasion and condemn Scarborough to relegation instead. Bizarrely, Glass' move was never made permanent and he never played for Carlisle again.

Columbus' Will Hesmer halts Toronto in derby

America's MLS is also not immune to its goalkeepers getting involved in the action either it seems. In 2010, Columbus Crew trailed their biggest rivals, Toronto FC, 2-1 away from home in a hard-fought league clash. As is the trend with last-minute set pieces in these tales, their keeper Will Hesmer made the long walk into the opposition area. The ball was nodded neatly into Hesmer's path before he coolly took a touch and, with the precision of an outfield player, slotted the ball home to send his team-mates and the travelling fans wild.

Pat Jennings shocks Old Trafford

An oldie but a goody, this. You'll have to look back to rather grainy black and white footage to see this goal, scored in a 1967 Charity Shield clash between Tottenham and Manchester United at Old Trafford. Legendary keeper Pat Jennings, who made 472 appearances for the north London outfit, kicked the ball to see it bounce just once at the edge of the United box and loop over opposition keeper Alex Stepney. Jennings' goal proved crucial as his side went on to draw the match 3-3, meaning they shared the trophy as was the custom then.

Hans-Jorg Butt scores and then...

The most amusing entry on the list, Hans-Jorg Butt's goal is perhaps more famous for the events which followed it than the goal itself. The German keeper successfully netted a penalty for Bayer Leverkusen in a 2004 league clash against Schalke and was understandably enthusiastic in his celebrations. However, as he signalled to the referee to indicate his readiness for the game to restart after celebrating, he turned in horror to see the ball flying over his head and into his own net. Schalke's quick-thinking forward Mike Hanke had seen Butt with his back turned and shot at goal straight from the kick off. Fortunately, the mistake mattered little in the end as Butt's side went on to win 3-2.

Jens Lehmann nets in fierce Ruhr derby

Jens Lehmann was more famed for his sharp temper than goalscoring exploits during a spell in England with Arsenal. Yet in Germany, and particularly with former club Schalke, the keeper has something of a reputation for finding the net. Having already netted a penalty years before for the German side, Lehmann added another strike to his record in the biggest game of all. With his side trailing in the final minutes of a typically intense Ruhr derby against Bayer Leverkusen, Lehmann was the furthest man forward for Schalke and nodded home brilliantly after the ball was lofted back in from an initially repelled corner. However, that strike in December 1997 proved to be the last of his career and the German made more of a reputation for his work in front of his own goal from that point on.

Paul Robinson improves England chances against Ben Foster

Paul Robinson enjoyed a prolonged spell as England's No.1 keeper and was in the midst of a successful period with Spurs in March 2007. His side faced a Watford containing a then pretender to the England goalkeeping throne in the shape of a young Ben Foster. Whilst he will have entered that game hoping to get one over on his direct competition, he did not perhaps believe that he would be the man to make Foster concede. Robinson's free kick from within his own half took that familiar solitary bounce in front of the Watford keeper before looping out of reach and into the net. Robinson promised soon after that he would not remind his compatriot of the matter when they met up for England duty, though whether he kept his promise or not we may never know.

Peter Schmeichel gives United hope against Rotor

If one person is most famed in English football for making the last-minute dash to the opposition penalty box, it is former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. The Dane's propensity for getting forward best summed up the never-say-die attitude of some of United's most successful sides and this is perhaps the reason they are so widely known, rather than for any particular success in netting. Schmeichel in fact scored just once for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, the equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Russia's Rotor Volgograd in a 1995 Uefa Cup tie. The goal itself was a brilliantly taken header but could not prevent the Red Devils from exiting on the away goals rule.